So will Trump publicly admit he is a worthless negotiator? He was not and has never been competent. For his entire career a group of well paid attorneys fixed his errors. They fawned over him to keep their hourly billing and his big ego solidly afloat. Why won’t Trump supporters see him for what he is - far worse than incompetent....and a traitor to boot!
4
I have a business that relies on Chinese imports. Not that I want that scenario, but there are no US vendors who can supply some our requirements. I tried for months to find a US vendor to supply a screw that had a white painted head. Rather simple you would think. Actually not, since we were unable to find someone.
Does anyone doubt this will be proclaimed as the greatest trade deal ever?
Of course it was not worth it.
I predicted this was gonna happen when he got elected and looks like it is about too although I think the demagogue will wait a little longer when he is up for re election assuming he is still around.
If he truly wanted to make a difference he would have brought back his and Ivanka's slave labor factories in China/India before they went belly up.
Make a big stink, put tariffs on everything, then end all tariffs, get a few bones from everybody and declare he is the greatest president since Lincoln.
2
I think the problem is the lack of focus. rather than trying for a broad set of changes, why not just focus on a key one - to me, intellectual property protection.
2
Trump is an accidental President. He didn't really want the job. No need to give him all the credit for the trade war fiasco. All Trump wanted is to have photos taken with real world leaders, like Xi and Putin.
Media have failed to put the spotlight on the "Trump Whisperers" like Peter Navarro, Steve Bannon, Jared Kushner, Robert Lighthizer, Wilbur Ross, etc. Don't forget the other Trump Whisperers that got him to shut down the government. And the FOX crew too.
4
so Trump made a mess of things and then acts like he contributed to our welfare......anything new? Typical of him.
14
There is nothing (zero) that our second-worst president couldn't have done better than Trump.
3
Kinda have to find out what the end result will be before asking that question. Don't you think?
The electorate will no doubt be hearing all kinds of mission accomplished bragging pertaining to this, regardless of the veracity of the statements, which per usual can be relied upon to be blatant lies. The truth is we've grown weary of losing due to the misguided, uneducated ignorance of this wannabe leader and will voice our disapproval with our votes 11-3-20.
10
If you make goals that are small and inconsequential, you'll almost always be successful. It appears Trump is following that strategy, most likely so he has something to brag about for the upcoming election. People will not put in the intellectual leg work to determine whether there was a "real measure" of success.
4
I am no fan at all of the Narcissist in Chief. And I disagree with the tactics used in this trade war. But: At least Trump recognized the seriousness of China's one-sided trade policies. Obama moved in the right direction with the TPP and the "pivot to Asia," but unlike in all other areas Trump did not repudiate Obama on the China issue. In fact his tough guy tariffs may have succeeded in convincing the Communist Party and Chinese government and business that it's not just talk, the U.S. is tired of being told our investment is welcome and then being shoved out of more and more Chinese markets. People who say "only Trump would have gotten tough on China" are wrong, it was coming anyway. But people who say "this was all a waste of time and money" are wrong too. The status quo was not working and Trump kept the momentum going to change it, and possibly increased that momentum as well. Even a sub-.200 hitter makes contact with the baseball once in a while. Of course Trump thinks he's Babe Ruth but that's just his sickness talking . . . .
2
How much trade has been lost to other Countries that will, in all probability not be recovered??
4
The U.S. rolled the dice when it acquiesced to China's entry into the WTO and lost the leverage to unilaterally impose trade sanctions on China in many areas. No doubt, the U.S. decision to allow China's entry into the WTO was made with consultation with corporate America and its eyes on the prize: a billion+ consumers. The U.S. did not reach this situation simply because of government decisions, but also due to corporate decisions.
One has to ask, did the companies engage in any due diligence before moving into China in the 1990s/early 2000s so that they had any understanding about some of China's government practices? After becoming familiar with those practices, did they decide the potential riches were too great to leave? Is this situation wholly a problem made by the US Government?
There is no doubt that Chinese government policies, the existence of state owned enterprises and other Chinese practices have had a negative impact on foreign businesses in China, but it would seem that, for the most part, a lot of this was known or expected to be a problem. And, these problems have persisted because US, European, Japanese and other foreign governments and their corporate citizens were reluctant to make greater efforts to address the problems.
1
@Moronic Observer Did the companies engage in any due diligence before moving into China in the 1990s/early 2000s so that they had any understanding about some of China's government practices? No! The big investors and top corporate executives were looking for a quick personal payday, damn the consequences! Move the manufacturing and engineering to China which cut costs by 85% and boosted profits by many multiples, thus goosing the stock price, then cash out quick. Let others deal with the consequences. This was greed straight through, sold with slogans about 'free trade', 'spreading democracy', etc.
6
Absolutely it was worth it - never again will companies be able to move abroad without weighting risks that their investment may be lost if tariffs are re-imposed at some date. The most logical course will be to build here if you want to sell here. Even if Trump does not get everything he wants from China, the landscape has changed forever .....
1
@SAL
"The most logical course will be to build here if you want to sell here. "...
I'm not sure that was either intended or the logical course. Actually, the idea was to improve the prospects for American exports to the immense (and growing) Chinese market. The US market, alone, is dismally small compared to the emerging global market. That said, the landscape has, indeed, changed.
3
As with the shutdown, the Great Dealmaker reveals his tactics: 1. Bluster, exagerrate, threaten with histrionics. 2. Enact a dramatic policy that injures the US economy. 3. Return to the status quo while fabricating tales of glorious victory. 4. Leave behind the carnage, making honest American workers suffer the consequences.
How on Earth has the Stable Genuis gotten away with this schtick time after time?
32
Trade war is easy to win. China wins. Russia wins. I'm tired of all this winning. and whining.
13
Government shut down, trade tariffs, the supposed improvement to NAFTA - every futile action is supposed to endear him to his base. He is the President of the Nation of Deplorables, not the USA.
24
Summary:American consumers paid more for goods; Manufacturers and Farmers lost business; Trump got many Photo Ops: Trade Deal is back to where it was before Trump interfered. Trump failed again. America; we have a weak and ineffective "leader". Ray Sipe
19
I'm not trade expert, but what this seems to have taught us is that the experts were right (again): tariff wars, at least unilateral tariff wars, do not work. Neither does tough talk.
That is not to say that China does not engage in unfair practices, particularly on the intellectual property front. But it seems the way to address that issue is to build a multilateral coalition that can craft a punishment that better fits the crime, without the collateral damage. For instance maybe the WTO could threaten to kick China out of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) until it stopped the forced transfer of foreign IP? After all, why is the rest of the world enforcing Chinese patents while they they steal our technology?
13
Meanwhile Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs stay on Mexico and Canada who thought agreeing with Trump on an updated NAFTA meant removal of the tariffs.
If Trump can’t even honor these agreements why should the Chinese or anybody else?
13
Gee! I read the article but could not understand the conclusion. Was there one? I mean, why did we do this? Why did we do it this way? A lot of people got hurt and I have yet to see the good, but then again I do not own the USA companies that passed on the tariffs to their customers, even though it was a domestic purchase. They made a bundle, but there is just a few of them, probably Trump's crony friends, who helped him steel (sic) the election. There seems to be some truth to that in terms of steel pricing.
The bottom line is "Where's the beef?" The most interesting thing, though, is the concept Trump pushes about buying American, which he doesn't do personally, but it's a big slogan here, while simultaneously we are asking China to buy American. I guess I just really don't understand what's going on. It's seems like a shell game. Trump simply cannot do anything in a straight forward way, let alone work with others to create solutions. Never has this country been so poorly served by an elected official at this level of government. Actually, it's pathetic.
6
The trade war crisis tells China to develop their own chip and technology industries other than relying on indeterminate supplies from the US. It will also spur the domestic reform in the financial system away from the state-owned enterprise and reminds Chinese the bitter memory of western imperialism during the opium war when China was a sick man of Asia. The word crisis comprise of 2 Chinese characters (crisis and opportunity) and they will learn and overcome the current obstacle and becomes stronger.
3
Sometimes you have to walk away. Sometimes you have to fold your "hand". Sometimes you fold your "hand" and walk away. This looks like a typical Trump combo platter where much is exclaimed and nothing beneficial is accomplished.
4
Democrat Party Leaders and most Business people have also said for years China is Not doing Right and something must be done. Apparently President Trump is about to win a Big one on this and this is a way of not giving him credit for what he has done for the USA. Trump shows why we should not Elect a politician as president..
@didyouconsider...."Apparently President Trump is about to win a Big one"....Please explain exactly what China has changed?
10
Trump is once again played like a fiddle by his negotiating adversaries. He is a simple man and everyone has pretty much figured that out except for his diehard 40 percent.
7
Trump says America needs a wall , he has forced these migrants to be funnelled to various crossing points (with his half-built wall in place) and now the Agents working at those points are completely overwhelmed. With Trade he forced the hand of China with threats and tariffs which now we see have hurt many smaller companies ( and he now backs down completely with nothing at all gained) only unverifiable promises the end result. And he is leaving this mess as well. But many have endured the pain of his actions (for nothing tangible to show for their effort or his). In both cases there is a lack of conclusion, lack of positive outcome for the US, and lack of gain for those who have been sacrificed. This pattern is also evident with the government shutdown he created to get the wall. Let's hope this pain at least convinces more and more Americans that he is going in the wrong direction, or at the least going about a needed measure (trade talks with China) the wrong way, and is not good for America.
3
So...trade wars are NOT good, and NOT easy to win?
4
Many of the crises for the White House are self inflicted by Trump. He is the hero to come in to save the day.
This is just like many of the Trump's building or tower that are not owned or built by him. He comes in, slapped his name on it and rid the benefit.
2
Was it worth it? Depends what we get for an agreement. One thing is for sure--we couldn't continue allowing China to cheat and steal.
1
@Jesse The Conservative - Well Trump who has built his life on cheating and stealing certainly isn't going to solve this problem.
3
Yes and no. As to the likelihood of China changing its ways, no. But as a publicity stunt, absolutely, especially after the big success with North Korea and Mexico paying for the wall.
Come to think of it, maybe China can help with the wall.
3
The fallout of the tariffs affects those not inherently invested in making nationalistic decisions. A good example: price of cars. The US tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel under the pretense of national security was countervailed by Cdn tariffs on US steel and aluminum. Both countries rely on one another for these materials because factories rely on specific grades, thicknesses etc. not universally supplied on either side of the border. So, in 2019, while researching for a new car, guess what? All the cars made in the US and imported into Canada are now as much or more expensive compared to Japanese, South Korean and Canadian made alternatives. Prior to these tariffs, the prices were clearly in favor of US brands. The warrant-less and overly aggressive trade policies are not winning loyalty of foreign buyers for American goods. I suspect a much longer recovery is in store for US goods that have been supplanted by more predictable/reliable trading partners for their substitute goods. For providers of these goods, they are similarly going to be reluctant to "cut off" their alternative suppliers in part because the predictability of the US foreign policy on business is bombastic and overly nationalistic. Even if they want to go back to US-only made goods, it would be foolish now to place all your supply chain in one country given how decisions are made in the US today. The business disruption is too great and consumer backlash to harsh to risk it.
6
We shouldn’t back down now. China has been feeling the effects of the trade war and are desperately trying to get the US to back down. It is a tough transition but if we stay the course then demand will create a myriad of manufacturing companies and sectors. China is feeling the heat and it’s s mistake to stop the tariffs now. So much for the art of the deal.
2
@Mike L
Do you really not understand what happened?
We, the consumers paid the price for Trump idiocy of a trade war and people lost their jobs.
Do some serious research before you start talking!
5
@Mike L — "We shouldn't back down now" is an easy thing to say hwen you are not the business owner fot whom ghe retaliatory tariffs have priced his products out of the Chinese markets, or that business owner's employee who laid off as a result of uis employer:s falling sales revenues.
It seems China and others sought alternative sources for tariffed items that opened anti-USA trade avenues. The return to pre-tariff trade will not suddenly occur with a signed agreement. The entities hurt in the USA by Trump's "easy to win" trade war will be set back for years to come.
14
trump never had a plan. never knew what he was talking about.
47
All of us who have done business in China know that the Chinese will tell you exactly what they think you want to hear and then do exactly what they always intended to do anyway.
Trump is giving away his leverage to a document that means this 'deal' will be another Trump specialty; a total bust.
33
sounds similar to the behavior of gentlemen and ladies in the WH and congress.
1
Blaming China for everything is the typical method used by the 1% to distract from their own rampant corruption and economic tyranny toward the other 99% of Americans. People need to stop swallowing the Chinese bogeyman narrative and work toward reforms within our own country.
23
@Sarah Johnson China engages in some genuinely shadey practices like artificially depreciating their currency. But yes, Americans are way too obsessed with The Yellow Peril. The sources to a lot of American problems are right here in America.
1
Wharton owes this country and the world an enormous apology.
26
Time will tell if it was "worth it" but I find it funny that whatever the end the market will rise and the administration will claim victory and say what a terrific job they did... even though they are the ones who created the tariff problem to begin with.
18
Foolish Trump never cared about the people and companies hurt by his sanctions/tariffs against China. They were just part of his bullying tactics and all he wants to do is appear and be in control. Now he is ramping up his same effort against India, meanwhile he meets with a N Korean dictator who has conducted numerous human abuses against his own people and is unable to formulate a relationship with that dictator.
13
East is east and west is west and …. suddenly they have met with a clash of beliefs and will. Perhaps this clash is felt most strongly in the matter of intellectual property rights — patents and copyrights — which are a Western belief (of fairly recent origin) most likely not really shared by Eastern culture. It perhaps strikes them as a form of Western madness, at best. At worst it may be seen as a sinister attempt to withhold useful information from others felt to be inferiors.
One could see the value of hiding a trade secret that led to greater profit, but then the clever fellow is the one who discovers that secret and employs it for his own use. Not to do that would be to act the fool.
Why in any case this obsession with changing how things work, when the real point in life is preserving ancient tradition and honoring one’s ancestors? Otherwise they may come back as angry spirits to punish, you know.
1
Heavy toll ? Where are the automaker bankruptcies, layoffs etc Where are the starving farmers etc. Of course it has been worth " the trouble " . If China reverts back to its devious ways, then just reinstate the tariffs. Hatred for President Trump should not impair common sense.
Love for President Trump should not impair common sense either, yet here we are.
7
@samuel Maybe you missed the $12 billion in farm aid that the administration is paying off farmers with so Trump doesn’t lose the rural vote.
8
GM Lordstown Ohio plants starts closing TODAY!
8
Was it $25 Billion in tax dollar subsidy or vote buying to farmers
plus anxiety for everyone over the cost of basic stuff all for someone's ego rush......
Was it worth it.........absolutely not
15
It's estimated that the US consumer lost a billion dollars and for what? The real issues with China have to do with forced technology sharing and their theft of intellectual property. From what I understand, that hasn't been addressed and the issue will remain.
19
Perhaps the following points can help add context to the trade debate in re: technology.
1) China has a very active nuclear program. The US has cancelled 2 new plants in SC and 2 plants in GA under construction have huge cost and time overruns.
2) China has a very active space program with a planned lunar landing. With its recent successful launch of a ship with supplies for the space station, the US hopes to leverage private markets to aid NASA' s return to manned space flights, after a lengthy delay.
3) China has invested heavily in alternative fuels with a long run view toward the financial and environmental ROIs from alternative energy. The US, at least the Trump Administration, has opted for a short run focus to protect its booked deposits of fossil fuels, much more so than China.
At the outset of the trade talks, the US wanted to ensure protection of its advanced intellectual property. Like its fossil fuel policies, the US must guard against being too protective of its leading IT industries in the face of global competition. Such policies protect a status quo ante, which in 2017, the CIA's website, by one method of determining GDP, shows: USA GDP of $19.49 trillion, versus $23.21 trillion GDP for China.
[3/5/19 Tu 1:48pm Greenville NC]
1
I agree that the intellectual property rights were a big sticking point in doing business with China but Trump's administration is not fixing it. It is very clear that Trump has zero understanding about the global trade. More damage done than benefits realized with Trump's trade ware.
14
He needs farmer votes in 2020
2
Trump failed again. Add it to the list: N Korea;NATO;Uniteing America; Democracy;
13
Here's what will bring the end to the trade war: Trump's use of his office to feather his own nest.
"China’s biggest bank, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., plans to reduce its space in Trump Tower when its lease runs out in October, people with knowledge of the matter said, creating a potential headache for the Trump Organization."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-09/china-s-biggest-bank-said-to-reduce-space-at-nyc-s-trump-tower
Just like how ZTE got approved after a sudden investment by China in aid of Trump properties.
6
The revision of China’s Foreign Investment Law - to something more amenable to attracting much-needed foreign investment to China - has been in the works for some time before Trump came to the fore. I suspect the negotiators may throw it in with the pile of “achievents” at the close of this damaging trade war, but that would be just political spin.
1
In Wisconsin and other mid-western states, it is the farmers who have lost the most. The majority tell us they will never recover the loss of long-standing contracts/buyers/markets for soy beans and other products.
Having grown up on a farm, I feel bad for them. But they voted for the con man and say they knew what they were doing. In reality, they bought the snake oil, bet the farm, and lost. Very sad for all.
72
So in the Trump/MAGA/GOP world if you make a problem and then "fix it" so it is worse than what it originally was, you call it a win?
86
@Son Of Liberty I still give Trump better than even odds in 2020 precisely because MAGA land is that absurd.
1
Trump has no "trade policy" or any other policy for governing our nation. He is motivated only by his hatred of his predecessor and his desire to stay in office. The latter requires that he cater to whites in the middle of the country, and thus, his bullying of other countries.
His voters don't care if he wins or is successful with trade policies that actually benefit them or the country at large. They're just angry that good jobs and higher education are no longer handed to them, and that they must now compete with brown-skinned people in this country.
Ms. Swanson, Mr. Tankersley, and other respected journalists need to stop writing serious columns about this president's "policies", as if he were a decent, sane, qualified man. He is none of these things. He has no use for facts or reality and neither does his base who remain in lockstep with him.
Trump's actions only turn on the only thing his base cares about: race. Do they think he helps them? Or, even if he hurts them, does it hurt their brown-skinned neighbors worse? Well, then, he'll order it.
Trump voters will gladly pay more for consumer goods or otherwise see their economic standing decline, as long as they know he represents only them.
And this is all Trump voters want - a president who tells them they're the only "real" Americans, and a president whose policies, he says, help only them. Their views explain every action of Trump's since he took office. This is all they want. This is all they've ever wanted.
75
@Nicholas Rush "motivated only by his hatred of his predecessor"... is exactly right.
This is why Trump went to talk with N. Korea - he's dying to win a Nobel Peace Prize because Obama did it.
9
I’m sure the Iowa farmers will find some way to justify why it was worth it, even as their soybeans rot
32
@AJ Maybe not. Iowa now has 3 Democrats in the House (out of 4). Most of those districts are farm country.
3
From Trump's perspective, it was worth it: he was following through on a campaign promise. Another item, promised to his supporters, checked.
7
@qisl Actually, he promised to win a trade war, not merely have one. He promised to make a better deal, not just a deal.
Much like he promised to have Mexico pay for a wall, not merely have a wall. Much like he promised to have a better health care policy, not just sabotage the current one. Much like he promised a tax cut that wouldn't help himself or rich people, not just a tax cut. And on and on.
3
trump and his advisers promised us economic growth through the tax giveaway law. Then they start trade wars that reduces our economic growth. Plus, they have made it easy for our former partners to shift their sales to countries that don't insult them.
Heckuva job, team trump. I'm sure your supporters aren't aware of having been shafted once again.
30
I fail to see what his bluster did to China and how it benefitted this country. I travel there for business and their attitude is we manufacture half the world we can wait until he goes or he wakes up and realizes he can't hurt us. It's better to be a friend to such a economic giant and mutually come to trade agreements which would have also allowed him to save face instead of this tail between his legs failure.
One thing I do know is his stupid trade war put my retirement 401K plan in negative territory wiping out all the gains from the previous year. The worst President this country will ever have.
60
The tariffs on Aluminum made already expensive hurricane windows cost prohibitive. The same for other home renovations. The lipstick is off the pig. I do not think there will be any rollback in prices until the next recession becomes real. This year..next year but certainly soon.
10
The government shutdown which had no results except about 15 Billion dollar loss to taxpayer and 1 million miserable people. Then the trade war costing about 5 billion a month and needing a 15 billion dollar handout to farmers. Meanwhile our GDP below 3% and China at 6%. Are we tired of winning with the dear leader?
22
@RichardHead Good points. And in addition to the shutdown and tariff debacles, we can add Trump’s border wall prototypes. Three million dollars worth of tax payer funded wall segments have been deemed ineffective and have fallen to the wrecking ball. What a waste!
Tariffs don't work, never have, never will and are eventually nothing but a tax on the citizens of the country that puts them in place. Tariff on steel? Patriotic American steel producers raise their prices by 25-30%, if not more, for the limited steel they can produce now with no associated wage increases. Cost increases passed along to the consumer. If they can't produce it? Gee, that's tough.
In the meantime we have alienated our allies for absolutely no reason at all. Next up, German cars. Wonder how that will turn out?
But the good news is that Trump has gotten to eat a lot of free food at these useless summit meetings that produce nothing but photo ops. Kimchee, anyone?
12
As usual, trump has melded his uniquely poor judgment, poor decision making skills, and poor implementation skills to create chaos and confusion. He is incorrect in his basic assumptions (what were his grades at Wharton?), and as he repeats them on the campaign trail (using his rallies to test market phraseology), the concepts become simple to understand, yet remain incorrect and of little substance (China is taking advantage of us! $4,000 for every family! The wall will protect us!).
As usual, the result is punishing for his base (health care, tax relief, tariffs) and collateral damage to many others. The trump family never feels any pain or harm. No matter the outcome, it is always proclaimed a "Win - promises made, promises kept" via the propaganda machine (Twitter, Faux News, Sinclair).
Inconceivably, his base loves him and believes his falsehoods (you CAN fool some of the people all of the time).
Ultimately, good people try to make the best of things, with luck the situation returns to semi-normalcy, and a new crisis (read this to mean creating fear among the populace) is dredged up from the trump swamp to become the next shiny object.
This is so predictable and so, so tiring!! When will this spiral of delusion end?
45
Was it worth it?
We reaped billions on duty and taxes, forced importers to start looking at other country economies for suppliers, some American industries saw a revival.
Yes it was.
Not if you ask Paul Kruger, but then again the guy thinks AOC is a financial genius.
But it was good for many countries who now are now sending cargo to us, it was very very good.
@AutumnLeaf Well, "we" didn't reap billions on tariffs, Americans PAID billions on tariffs. Awesome.
We forced Americans to look at alternative countries for supplies, where they cost more. Hooray.
And sure, some American industries saw a profit, like aluminum and steel manufacturers, who were able to pass along higher prices to you and me and intermediate domestic businesses because Trump prevented foreign competition. Winning!
And you and I aren't farmers. Record bankruptcies in the farm belt.
14
@AutumnLeaf. Sir, the “billions” you claim were reaped we’re paid by the consumers, you and me, NOT China!
Secondly, the Nobel Prize-winning economist/pundit is Paul Krugman; somewhat more intelligent than you.
And lastly, if more countries are now sending their cargo to us then our trade deficit is not improving at all. It is merely changing sources.
Let’s make an attempt to understand what is going on, shall we?
14
Trump's Trade Tariff Tourette Syndrome, like his fake border wall crisis ....like his manufactured North Korean crisis....like all of his signature Snake Oil issues...are manmade crises where he creates huge problems, then 'magically' solves them, and declares victory while nothing of substance changes.
Trump is a consummate, comprehensive fraud and 12-alarm dumpster fire of the first order.
His mayhem is only worth it if you're a fan of the Worldwide Wrestling Federation and enjoy chairs being smashed over the heads of random people.
He's as Presidential as a barking junkyard dog.
(apologies to junkyard dogs everywhere)
120
@Socrates These are not "man made" crises, they are Trump made crises;)
4
Chalk up another failure for the man who gave you "The Art of the Deal".
All Trump accomplished, with tariffs and trade wars, was uncertainty and economic hardship. Just liek he did with the government shutdown. Just like his Nobel Peace Prize g o bust with North Korea.
The only thing he did do, was make corporations, and the 1%, richer with tax cuts. He left 99% with a higher national debt, and the jury is still out on how many, of the 99%, are actually paying more in taxes.
Lesson to political parties; nominate people who actually have experience, intelligent and do not have a boat load of baggage.
39
Can't we rename this a trade **dispute**? That focuses discussion upon points of contention and solutions. Trade war may well be Donald Trump's preferred description, which of course implies winning some objective, however ill-defined at the outset.
6
Correct me, if I am wrong, but the price
of Soybeans has gone up, back to profitable prices
for American Farmers, now, but of course the
NY Times never reported that.
Greed always wins out.
1
@John Brown consider yourself corrected. Soybean prices remain depressed well below 2017 levels. Compounding the price depression is that American farmers’ share of the market has also shrunk significantly. Buyers are looking for suppliers from countries that are reasonably trustworthy. America, at the moment, doesn’t qualify.
87
@John Brown Farmers were given subsidies by the government in order to keep afloat during the trade war.
38
@John Brown I'd add, soybean prices going up this year doesn't change the fact that last years crop rotted in the fields.
10
I personally am opposed to tariffs and think there are better ways to address the nature of the Chinese market. But if we end this trade conflict without fixing the Chinese system of forced IP and tech transfer, then it WILL have been for naught.
9
@Jim R. Remember all nations steal technology . America in 1800 paid spies to go to England to steal their textile machinery plans, then to Europe to get info on industry. Stealing technology is a normal way of nation behavior. Its the guys just starting out that are more aggressive. Remember our companies could say No to China sharing their technology, it just would mean losing market share.
8
@Jim R.
American corporations have been all in to deal with China last 30 years, and did heavy lobbying in DC to get there without much regulation.
They made huge profits, paid their executives fat bonuses, and now complain their secrets were stolen?